Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called
on his followers to stage a massive, days-long sit-in next weekend outside the
Green Zone in Baghdad, with the hope that the demonstration will force
lawmakers to stop resisting reform.

Chemical attacks continued
in Taza on Saturday, raising the total number of victims to 600, up by 400
sickened from the last estimate. So far, one toddler has died from
the effects of the agent, which is believed to be mustard
gas. An Iranian medical team arrived
to treat patients.